Clan

July 1, 2020

Gr 4 Up-Atlatl, a young boy living in the Stone Age, hopes to earn his father's respect as hunter. Atlatl's father is the leader of the Clan and shows his disappointment on an almost daily basis. Atlatl, who sustained a debilitating childhood injury, can't hunt and provide food. One day, when Atlatl experiments with a new weapon that he intends to show his father, he is stalked by a large female saber-toothed tiger. When a pack of wolves attacks and kills the mother, Atlatl is thrust into the caregiver role of protecting the baby sabertooth. He decides to bring the cub back to the Clan, which leads to consequences and even further isolation from his father-banishment, the worst punishment for any Clan member. Without the protection of the group, Atlatl is susceptible to a variety of predators: The short-nosed bear, dire wolves, and cheetahs. As the rainy season approaches and the Clan decides to move to higher ground, disaster strikes. Atlatl must find a way to survive using his wits, loyalty, and bravery to face his biggest foe yet and to save what remains of his Clan. VERDICT A solid read for fans of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet and general adventure fiction.-Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs M.S., TX

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